Each year the school board passes a budget in late winter -- but then plays a waiting game -- because much depends on how big of a money transfer county supervisors decide to give the school district.

This spring, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors decided to give the school district virtually the same amount of money it got last year -- $42 million less than the school board had requested.

School board members say they're still committed to the first district-wide pay increase in two years, but some suggest the goal of a 2 percent market scale increase may have to be reduced to a 1 percent increase. Step increases for eligible employees are being discussed as well.

The board must also decide whether it can afford to implement full-day kindergarten in all elementary schools this fall -- or spread the process out over two years.

Fairfax residents get their last chance to weigh in on the budget this week at a public hearing Tuesday evening.

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